Lentswe, Klerksdorp - “If the heavy rains of the past few weeks have taught us one thing, it is that if the North West Government starts making the right investments now, future disasters can be avoided.”
Freddy Sonakile, member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) and chairperson of the DA in the North West writes:
“Year after year, without fail, the province is hit by heavy rainfall, and every year, our government seems to be caught off guard. Despite the predictable nature of these storms, the NW Government waits for the crisis to unfold before they take action. It is common sense that heavy rains will cause damage, so why do they always seem surprised and are completely unprepared every time it happens?
Heavy rains wreaked havoc across various parts of the province, including Mahikeng. Nelson Mandela Drive stands out as the most glaring example, with millions poured into refurbishing the road. At the onset of this dubious project, promises of addressing the stormwater drainage issues were flung around among others. Yet, just after completion, the very road that was supposed to prevent flooding is now flooded itself. It begs the question: why did the NW Government allow it to end up here?
Then there’s Taung. Why have they not built water catchment systems to conserve rainwater and prevent it from turning into destructive floods? It seems like an obvious solution, but year after year, we watch as houses are damaged and water flows away with no plan to manage it.
Let’s talk about Klerksdorp. In particular, the N12. With all the talk about improving infrastructure, there is still no action taken to fix the stormwater drainage systems. We still see water pooling in the streets, damaging roads and posing risks to our residents?
The truth is, the North West government has been asleep at the wheel for far too long, letting the same problems fester year after year. The NW Government simply cannot sit back and wait for disaster to strike before they act as other places have found ways to deal with heavy rainfalls and manage stormwater effectively. It’s not like there aren’t solutions out there. It’s about time we start taking notes and implementing real, sustainable changes.
What can be done?
The most obvious solution will be to focus on regular maintenance of existing infrastructure. If this was done, we would not have half the damage we are currently facing. That means cleaning out drains, checking pipes, and making sure everything is ready to handle the next round of heavy rainfall. Finally, we need to get the community involved. The more we can educate residents about managing water, the better. We need to move away from the mind-set that only the government can solve these problems. Involve local people in finding solutions, and they’ll be more invested in making sure they work.
